Immigration & Naturalization Service, Procurement Division, 425 I St., NW, Room 2208, Washington, DC 20536

G -- EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM -- AMENDMENT A00003 SOL HQ-99-06 DUE 092499 POC Marina Atchison 202-305-7494 E-MAIL: Marina Atchison, Marina.E.Atchison@usdoj.gov. HQ-99-06 previously posted in the CBDNet on August 25, 1999 has been amended. Amendment A00003 is issued to the above combined synopsis/solicitation for purchase of Employee Assistance Program services. This amendment is issued in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes an amendment of the above solicitation, proposals are being requested, and a written amendment will not be issued. This amendment is issued to furnish questions and answers concerning this synopsis/solicitation. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Question No. 1: Please provide a list of vendors who have submitted questions and/or who have shown an interest in responding to the synopsis/solicitation. Answer: Due to the streamlined approach being used for this requirement a detailed bidders mailing list is not available. In many cases, vendors expressing an interest by electronic mail or telephone have not provided their complete company name, business address, and phone number. Several individuals have also expressed an interest in this requirement. The following list is NOT an all inclusive list of those vendors that have expressed an interest in this requirement to date: JDS Mediation Services, Inc.; Human Behavior Associates, LLC; Peacemakers, Inc.; Health and Human Services Group; TLI Systems, Inc.; Med-National, Inc.; Inova Employee Assistance; Behavioral Health Partners, Barnes Jewish Christian Health System (BJC); J&E Associates, Inc.; Science Applications Internation Corporation (SAIC); Health and Services Group; Ryan Group; Federal Occupational Health; Conflict Management Institute; Mike Carr (Professional Mediator -- Northern California area); Conference and Health Services; Larry Wartek; Capital Health Care Group; Menninger Care Systems; and Managed Health Network (MHN). Question 2: We provide mediation and training services only. Can our firm submit a proposal only for those services, or are you seeking companies that can provide all of the EAP services? Answer: INS is seeking companies that can provide all of the EAP services addressed in the combined synopsis/solicitation statement of work. A proposal for a portion of the services may be deemed nonresponsive. If a company is interested in subcontracting opportunities, a letter indicating the company name, business address, telephone/facsimile numbers, area of interest, and company point of contact can be submitted. A list of potential subcontractors will be furnished to the selected contractor at time of award. Question 3: Can we submit a proposal via e-mail or do you need a copy in hand? Answer: Proposals should be submitted to the mailing address identified in the combined synopsis/solicitation. Proposal requirements were further addressed in amendment A00002. Proposals will not be accepted by e-mail or facsimile. Hand delivery of proposals to the mailing address is acceptable. Question 4: The provisions of FAR 52 that explain the Governments requirements, you stated must be requested by facsimile. What is the fax number? Is it possible to request and receive via e-mail? Answer: The synopsis solicitation stated "copies of provision 52.212-3 will be provided upon offeror request." Offerors requiring copies of any provisions and/or clauses contained in the combined synopsis/solicitation can request them by telephone to (202) 305-7494. Due to the size of the provisions and/or clauses, requests cannot be filled by e-mail. Requests can be filled by facsimile only. Offerors can also download provisions and/or clauses at http://web.deskbook.osd.mil/default.asp?tasklist.asp or http://www.arnet.gov/far/. Offerors must furnish a facsimile number when requesting copies of any provisions and/or clauses. Question 5: How can we get copies of SF1449 and FAR 52.212-3? Answer: Copies of the SF 1449 and FAR 52.212-3 may be requested by telephone to (202) 305-7494. Copies will be facsimiled upon request. Question 6: Please consider this e-mail an acknowledgement of receipt of amendment A00002 (assuming such is required). Answer: Offerors must acknowledge receipt of all amendments at time of proposal submission. Acknowledgement cannot be made via e-mail. Question 7: The combined synopsis/solicitation contains the following statement: "In addition, the Contractor must have or establish an emergency response debriefing team, within 30 days after contract award, that is capable of responding within 1 hour, to travel to any INS location to provide multiple days of CISD services, domestically & internationally." Do you want a response to the specific INS domestic or international location within 1 hour? OR Do you want a response to the CISD request/problem within 1 hour? The response to the CISD request/problem could then set up a debriefing within 24 hours. Answer: INS wants a response to the CISD request/problem within 1 hour. The response could then set up debriefing arrangements. As a result of this question, the fourth sentence under paragraph [6] CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS DEBRIEFING (CISD) of the combined synopsis/solicitation is changed to read as follows: "In addition, the Contractor must have or establish an emergency response debriefing team, within 30 days after contract award, that is capable of responding within 1 hour, to travel to any INS location to provide multiple days of CISD services domestically." Question 8: Please clarify the criteria to be used to evaluate offerors' past performance given the statement, "Offerors shall include a list of three contracts and/or subcontracts completed or currently in progress involving law enforcement EAP services." Does this mean that proposals from companies that have not been awarded three contracts/subcontracts for employee assistance programs by law enforcement agencies will not be eligible for award? Answer: The law enforcement EAP services past performance requirement is critical to the work that INS requires under this EAP effort and will be used as a criterion in making award. Question 9: Will EAP experience with other than law enforcement agencies be considered relevant for purposes of award? Answer: Yes, it will be considered. However, law enforcement experience is highly desired and past performance evaluation will factor law enforcement EAP experience accordingly. Question 10: If a company has little or no ongoing/past contracts with law enforcement agencies, but its providers have experiencing serving law enforcement personnel will the company be considered eligible for award. Answer: The depth of experience which providers have to offer will be considered. Provider experience working with law enforcement personnel should be thoroughly addressed in an offeror's past performance submission. Question 11: Please state the criteria (other than past performance) to be used to determine if an offeror is technically acceptable. Answer: The technical evaluation will be an evaluation of the offeror's technical approach to meeting all requirements of the Statement of Work. Question 12: Paragraph [6], Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, states that the contractor will havean emergency team in place within 30 days after contract award. The end of the paragraph then states that the Contractor shall provide names, titles, locations, & degree information for debriefers, including their law enforcement experience, as part of the proposal. Do we need to submit this information with the proposal or within 30 days after contract award? Answer: CISD debriefer/provider information MUST be included in the proposal. Question 13: How does either FAR 52.219-9 (Small Business Subcontracting Plan) or FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) affect a company's ability to provide EAP services through a network of EAP counselors? It would appear that only companies whose EAP counselors are bona fide employees will be in compliance with FAR 52.219-14. Answer: FAR 52.219-14 is DELETED from the combined synopsis/solicitation as no portion of the requirement is to be set aside specifically for small business. FAR 52.219-9 still applies. AMENDMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Proposals must acknowledgereceipt of this amendment before the hour and date specified in the synopsis/solicitation. Failure of this acknowledgement to accompany the proposal may result in rejection of your proposal. If as a result of this amendment you desire to change a proposal already submitted, such change may be made by a letter. The letter must refer to the RFP No. HQ-99-06 and this amendment, and be received before the time and date specified. The synopsis/solicitation HQ-99-06 is amended as indicated above. The hour and date for receipt of proposals is not changed. Except as provided herein, all other terms and conditions of HQ-99-06 remain unchanged and in full force and effect. End of amendment A00003 to synopsis/solicitation number HQ-99-06. Posted 09/16/99 (W-SN380961). (0259)

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